Buying first .30 size heli

[.3nemy]

I've been learning on sims for around 5 months now, i can control hover nose in tail in side in i can fly at simulated wind speeds of up to 11m/s and can perform some basic aerobatics and i can 60% of the time recover from an uncontrollable spin so i decided its time to get the real thing.

I've been looking at .30 size choppers imparticular the raptor 30 and caliber 30 and would like some advice on the two, i have a tight budget at £350 but could possibly stretch that out +20 if necessary.

I was thinking maybe buy a second hand one, if so what kind of price should i be paying for a rtf raptor or caliber? however i have no idea what kind of price i should be paying for a brand new kit and whether to get an artf or kit or whatever, according to skyline models i can get a raptor 30 minus everything for £190, with an os sz-37h for an extra £100.

Which brings me on to my next question. As for radio gear i have only 1 Futaba skysport 6 Tx which i am planning to use, i would like to spend as little as possible on my Rx and around £90 on a gyro and £25 each on servos. So any help and guidance on what to buy there would be great.

I hope thats not all too much to ask and if i've missed anything out please let me know.

Thanks in advance

[moyesboy]

Unfortunately I don't think the skysport 6 will mix the throttle and collective for you, so you probably need a different tx.
If you are buying a tx then there should be good used 35 meg stuffa bout as peoel are changeing to 2.4Ghz.

For a basic setup on a .30 you can go cheaper on the servos, but you should go for a good tx. If you buy used you might get all the flying end of the heli.

I paid a little over £400 for a hardly used rapotr .50 v2 with good servos, SL560 gyro and 6ch pcm rx and a os50 sx-h that had had only a gallon through it with carbon main and tail blades.
A .30 might be £300.

However I recommend taking it all apart and building it again with a used one. The bloke who sold mine had a few helis and sounded like he knew his stuff but after a while I found some vital parts about to fly off that hadn't seen any loctite during the assembly. So don't look on a used purchase as saving learning how to assembly it!

Post links here to the stuff you might buy for advice on the componants.
you got it right to spend on the gyro - a 401 is the one to use (£89?).

[.3nemy]

ok well i think i'll buy a second hand radio set then, stick to the gy401 gyro because i've heard its a rock solid reliable gyro. What is the Futaba 6EX like? looks like a fairly standard heli radio set, they are £150 brand new with 4 standard futaba servos and an rx etc. i might try and pick a seond hand one up from somewhere.

As for the heli itself it looks like i'll go for the raptor brand new with a brand new os37 or something. If i can get a cheaper caliber 30 would it be worth it or is the raptor a lot better?

thanks for your help

[Disc]

If I was you get the Futaba 7c as the min radio for a Helicopter avoid the 6ex and trust me on this. It'd be one of the best things you do is NOT buying one of them!

Avoid the Caliber 30 as well parts prices and supplys an issue. Raptor 30 better starting out machine for sure.

[Disc]

These are not to bad for a 30 machine and starting out:

http://www.bmfaclassifieds.co.uk/detail.php?id=28880

[.3nemy]

ok great thanks, any imparticular reason why the 6ex is a no? thanks for your advice

[Ade_Law]

the mechanics of the 6ex are not nice. it doesnt sit in your hands nicely the software is pretty unfriendly too.

can you stretch your budget a little? It will save you money in the long run, as you will end up buying the right bits later on if you scrimp now.

i would probably go for the following

Futaba 7c
Raptor 30
OS 37
1 x futaba 3152 on collective
3x futaba 3001 on the aileron, elevator and throttle
futaba 401 and 9254 for the tail rotor
sub C size 4.9v battery and heavy duty switch
Hyperion 8 channel RX (cheaper than PCM and almost as good)
Pro peak prodigy II charger

this blows your budget by a fair amount but as I said it will safe you money in the long run and give you a model that will be reliable and enjoyable to fly.

Ade

[Leebert]

Futaba 7C trannys were £100 from Inwood Models last time I looked. Great radio for the money.

[moyesboy]

The 7CAP (FF7) is a good radio (I have one).
however anyone buying new should have the DX7 2.4Ghz top of their list.

The advantage of having a 7th channel is that later you might want the extra channel to control a governor.

[Ade_Law]

DX7 will blow the budget completly tho, the servos it comes with are useless and you cant buy it without them.

Ade

[Philimon]

DX7 will blow the budget completly tho, the servos it comes with are useless and you cant buy it without them.

Ade

BRCHobbies.com are selling DX7's sans servo's these days, but thats the exception that proves the rule, so to speak.

[LipolyGone]

Raptor 30 V2 for sale
OOOOOpppppps did I just post a link to a raptor 30 v2 with os37 for sale in classifieds whoooops sorrry.
I also have a 3152 new & 3 x 3001's used but good working order that I could also put in with a deal you would just need to source a radio & gyro tail servo combo.
I'm open to offers on it. This is the heli I have been learning on & is in fine fettle & built to an excelent standard I can take paypal & will post.
Martin

[.3nemy]

i'm interested in that buy, i'll surely get back to you within a week, its a fine looking heli thanks for the offer i may very will accept it

[LipolyGone]

No problem mate it's there if you want it.
Let me know either way when you make your decision.
Martin

[Chippy]

I can vouch for Martins chopper i`ve seen it in action and its a goodun.

As for the futaba 6exhp thingy dont bother cos I`ve got one and its soon to be relegated for sim use only,ok it works and does what its supposed to but the menu system is not user friendly.

Cheers Andy.